Jamshedpur: Principal suspended over student self-immolation

JAMSHEDPUR: The management of the Shardamani Girls School in Jamshedpur has suspended the principal days after arrest of the teacher in connection with alleged humiliation of a Class IX girl last week which forced her to attempt self-immolation. Officials on Tuesday said the principal, Geetarani Mahato, was suspended on Monday on charges of dereliction of duty.
Chandra Das, who asked the Class IX girl to undress after she was caught cheating during the exam, is currently in jail.The district education department, however, said currently there's no proposal to recommend the state education department to expel the accused teacher.
She, however, was suspended soon after a case was lodged against her on October 15.
DEO Nirmala Kumari Barelia said, "Expulsion is subject to the outcome of the legal proceedings. Currently, there's no proposal to recommend to the state education secretary to expel the teacher. Action against the principal was taken by the school regulation committee on Monday and communicated to us." The principal is accused of making attempts to cover up the incident and save the teacher.
Meanwhile, the three-member panel headed by district superintendent education (DSE) Nishu Kumari has submitted its report to the department. The panel, was constituted by the DEO Nirmala Kumari Barelia to probe the charges against the schoolteacher that she made the girl take off her clothes in the classroom. "I have submitted the report to the DC," she said.
The 15-year-old victim is undergoing treatment of burn injuries at Tata Main Hospital (TMH) since October 14.
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Vijaya Jadhav, who is regularly monitoring the progress of the medical treatment of the girl, has conveyed to her family that they can take the girl to any leading hospital in the country for further treatment and that the administration would help them in every way.